Favonius Cornelius

My only suggestion is don't blend Republican and Empire history into one lump. Ursus' section I should be for instance all contained therein for the Republic, II the Empire with the same sections, III Fiction and IV media. There is just too much content to lump them together, and have distinct differences that should be noted.

I have to admit I do indeed like the idea of any elected system, it is a lot of fun, just maybe not practical here. This does not mean though that it has no place at all here at UNRV. Perhaps a separate section could be made for some form of role playing game dealing with the Roman Republic for example. I've played a great many of these, and could probably whip up a rudimentary set of rules. Could be fun if you are into that sort of thing.

I'm a bit late on this discussion, but whatever is decided on, it seems like we have too few a number of regular posters to have much of a system beyond what we have now. Like Viggen said people come and go, a fact which should not be counted against someone and a fact which would cause complications for just about any system.

Are you from South Africa?

I suggest moderation: remove the principales position, and add in a representitive spread of centurion positions, before entering the higher ranks, which themselves should require ever increasing number of posts to attain. This would result in my demotion, but devotion to the empire is my highest prioriy. *salute* I hope people do not post useless posts just to raise in rank...only end result is useless clutter...

At long last I have completed my list of ancient sources lacking from the current list here at UNRV. I could use help yet for quotations for the for Sextus Aurelius Victor and Fronto. If the quotation scheme is liked, I can come up with more for the already covered authors. As a secondary project, I will work on adding a few more authors since I believe I have seen a few here and there that could be relevant as I spot them, and perhaps some day a second list can be complied. I hope that the gods are pleased by my labors, which I dedicated to the noble spirit of the Divine Caesars such that their memory will never die, I Favonius Cornelius Pola, a humble servant of the Empire.

What I remember the most about this great funny man were his facial spasms when he would get angry or frustrated, always hilarious.

I like it a lot too, really captures true Roman spirit I think.

Thanks Zeke

I pay my respects to this learned man. *salute*

Ah Illinois. I was born and raised there. All I have to say is you don't know the meaning of cold until you have felt your own breath freeze on your nostrils before making it to the world. Seriously, Scandinavia aint got nothin on us.

This image of Caesar as portrayed by the HBO/BBC series Rome has always caught my eye as a great representation for the sort of Roman I have role played in many different games. Hard bitten, serious, calculating and devoted to greatness.

All we know of Otho really was he was a good man. Of the 4, I swear to him.

Today was going to be a day that historians would constantly bicker about. A day that every student of history would have to remember. On that day, the entire army of the eastern legions, commanded by Propraetor Favonius Cornelius Pola, were getting ready to strike their camp, and march forward to meet the masses of Mithridates. Pola made every effort to be visible to his men on this day, walking about as a general should, encouraging his troops, helping with the lowest labors. Spirits were high. Victory was a certain thing in hearts and minds. And then a group of 100 ragged horsemen rode straight into the camp. They did not stop for watchwords or identification, and indeed some men were pulled off their horses in their effort to get to the Propraetor as soon as possible. Tribune Albinus and about 10 men made it to where Pola stood, supervising the collection efforts of a baggage for tens of thousands of men. "Propraetor!! Propraetor! It is I Tribune Albinus!" The tribune nearly fell off his horse as he dismounted, two bundles under his arm. Troops from all sides quickly surrounded the Tribune. Uncertain what to do, some unsheathed gladii, others supported the Tribune. "I MUST see the Propraetor at once!" Pola knew exactly what was going on. For one thing his eyes and ears were well placed throughout his provinces of jurisdiction. He turned to see what the commotion was, then motioned for his lictors to clear a path, striding towards the Tribune. "Tribune Albinus, you should be at Ilium with the Regina. What is the meaning of this?" Pola demanded in an angry tone. Albinus stumbled forward still clutching his bundles like precious babes. He looked like a crazed man: his helmet was gone, uniform not at all up to standards, and his eyes. They had seen something not of this world. He fell to his knees in front of the Propraetor, perhaps from weariness? "IMPERATOR!" He shouted so that all men could hear him, he frantically threw aside the cord and cloth that held he items. In his hands he now held a golden crown studded with clear gems of unquestionable value, and a long sword, of Greek style, etched with what was ancient Latin: 'Aeneas.' "Imperator, I give to you, the crown of the Trojans, and the Sword of Aeneas!!" At first a stunned silence reigned. All stood staring at the objects held in the trembling hands of the Tribune. Even Pola stood there, in awe, wide eyes staring at the artifacts before him. Hundreds of men began to surround the scene, ignoring their duties to get a glimpse of history. Soon the buzzing of a thousand conjectures, questions and acclimations turned into a roar. "It is a sign!" "The gods favor us!" "Imperator Cornelius Pola!" Pola reached for the sword first. It was well made. He hefted it, and took a swing, which caused a cheer from the crowd as legatus, tribune, centurion, and legionnaire stood side by side. The blade needed to be sharpened, but it was in remarkably good condition, as if forged by the gods themselves. Pola reached for the crown. There was a silence from the men as they stared in awe. Pola raised it to eye level, inspecting every crevasse, every gem. It was clearly of ancient design. This was the legendary crown of the Trojans, ancestors of the Romans. Not for some thousand years had a Roman worn it. And now, once again the Romans had their birthright. The men began again to create a din. Pola raised his hand for silence, and a hush spread across the masses. "Tribunes, Legati! Assemble the men. I will speak to them all." After a few hours, the legions were assembled. Even the Numidians stood in tight rank as they heard the news. All men wondered what this meant, all men knew it was something big. Something major. Pola stood flanked by his Legati. On one side stood Tribune Albinus, now better attired, holding the Crown of the Trojans. On the other Tribune Caelius, holding the sword of Aeneas. When everything was ready, twenty trumpeters sounded grand call befitting the scene. Then total silence. "Soldiers of Rome! I came to Asia merely a Quaestor, ready to count coins and dwell upon economy. By amazing fate, I now stand before you, as your Propraetor, as your Pontifex Maximus, as your Imperator! We have fought well against the Pontics. At Timoni we met them on ground unfavorable to battle, and easily bested them. Because in the end, we are men, hardened by training, by stoic upbringing, and by glorious, soul-cleansing war!" The men cheered their agreement. "I stand before you today, the man who with you defeated Mithridates. The coward fled to his lands, sick with the wrath of the gods. We have liberated Bithynia, and already sacked two cities. And I have allowed you to pillage the baggage of Mithridates. Have I not? Have I not treated you as my brothers, as my soldiers!? Have I not sought to lead you with vision and courage?" The men cheered, including the Legati and Tribunes. The cheering carried on for a while as the soldiers showed their appreciation, and indeed expectation for more. Tribune Albinus turned to salute Pola, then raised the crown towards his head. The cheering died down into a confused rumble. Tribune Albinus withdrew the crown at the Propraetors bidding. "Romans! At every stage of this war, we have seen signs from the gods. Though the Senate in Rome would do everything in its power to prevent us from victory as jealous, lazy senators plot their petty schemes, you and I have fought hard, and risked everything so that they can continue their schemes. My own very friend, Tribune of the Plebs Lentulus, once a patrician but a converted pleb so that he could safeguard YOUR future, and the future of your friends and family, was murdered. A foul senator funded this plot, destroying all respect for us, for plebs, and for our ways. Despite this evil from Rome, the gods have shined on us with every step. Hardly a morning passes when, as I pray to the gods as your Pontifex Maximus, an eagle does not fly over our camp. And now my brothers, now the gods have spoken to us directly. They have put the power of the future directly into our hands! Our ancient homeland, Ilium, has been unearthed. And there, with the Regina Sacorum herself supervising the affair with her blessings, we have found our ancient heritage returned to us! BEHOLD! THE CROWN OF THE TROJANS! AND THE SWORD OF AENEAS! The gods have granted them to us, for they will ensure our victory and greatness despite all odds!" So it was true, they thought. Both tribunes held the artifacts high for all too see as the legions cheered the gods for their generosity and favor. Both tribunes made a move to give the objects to Pola, but a second time he refused them and demanded silence with his hands held high. "I have these objects within my reach, and I could wear this crown, I could wield this sword, but what is an Imperator, if he is not declared so by his men on the battlefield? What good am I if I stand alone against the Pontics? Nay, it is by YOUR greatness that victory is had, by YOUR sacrifices. I could not claim such items without the support of all of you. You have done Rome greater honor than any soldiers in her history, for if Mithridates were allowed to conquer, Rome herself would fall. For this reason, I am declaring that if you follow me, if you heed my every order, if you fight with greater honor, and with greater strength that any legion in the history of our brave people, I WILL SEE TO IT THAT EVERY MAN OWNS AN ESTATE THE SIZE OF WHICH YOU COULD NOT EARN ALONE! I WILL SEE TO IT THAT EACH OF YOU ARE A KING IN YOUR OWN RIGHT! I WILL GRANT YOU BOON UNLIKE ANY SOLDIER BEFORE! NOT THE GREEDY SENATE, NOR ANY KING CAN STOP ME FROM GIVING YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE!" "FOLLOW ME, LET ME LEAD YOU TO WHERE OUR FATE TAKES US, AS ORDAINED BY THE VERY GODS THEMSELVES! Will you follow me Romans?" "MATER VICTORIA!" Tribune Albinus placed the crown finally on the head of the Propraetor, and with the Sword held high, he basked in the shockwave of cheer resonating from the legions. It was a moment Pola would never forget. "Hail. Hail! Hail! HAIL! HAIL! HAIL POLA IMPERATOR!"

Is there any chance you think that Jupiter Dolichenus is the source of the later Cult of Mithras?

A girlfriend of mine in college loved them and had a collection.

Well....ya, what's signifigant about 2012? By the way nice to see you around here Kanoth.

The wars were easily profitable to the Republic then Empire. In terms of slaves, loot, recruitable soldiers, better defensive border (in the long run) and the elimination of a warlike neighbor, it's a winning situation. If it somehow was a downfall for the Romans, it is pretty remarkable it took 500 yeas to make that happen. I think real mistakes make their effect known within a few years. Perhaps the real mistake here was not conquering the Germans and reducing that defensive border even further.

I'm not totally familiar with this subject, but I seem to remember hearing that hemp depletes the soil really fast while trees not nearly as much. This might be something thrown into the calculation.

I think the Celtic people caused it to happen by their ceaseless wars upon their neighbors. The Romans did not take it upon themselves to invade nations that had no history of provocation, at the least peaceful nations could expect status as an 'friend and ally.' The Gallic wars were nothing more than a chance for Caesar to earn medals, but during them too the Gauls continued to be too prideful and paved the way for their own conquest by squabbling amongst each other and making unwise attacks against the Romans after they had made oaths to the contrary. If the Gauls could have just learned to control their tempers and sword arms then I think Caesar would have been hard pressed for rationale.

In terms of energy fusion power, if it can be harnessed, and I believe it can, would lead to energy independence for the entire world without the fear of weaponry.

You can be an equestrian and run for the Tribunate. In fact probably most Tribunes of the Plebs were equestrians.

The major way all organic substances break down is via bacteria, and though bacteria can be found to survive in even the most extreme conditions, high salinity is deadly to a vast majority.

Really now, Germanicus was a great leader and a true member of the first Roman dynasty. Loyalty should come naturally if you are a true Roman!

If you compare polytheism and monotheism, clearly monotheism has all the blood on its hands. I can't even think of a single instance of polytheistic religious warfare, and on the contrary it is well known for its acceptance of other beliefs.